Device for introducting active substances into ambient air

ABSTRACT

A device for introducing active substances, such as aromatic substances, insecticides and the like, into ambient air, comprises a holder for a carrier with a wick impressed thereon, which carrier can be placed in the holder and is replaceable. A mechanism to be operated by hand is provided for operating an ignition element, which can be placed in the holder and is replaceable, as for instance a gas lighter, to enable a wick to be ignited when a carrier with this wick has been placed in the holder.

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for introducing activesubstances such as aromatic substances, insecticides and the like, intoambient air, comprising a holder for a carrier with a wick impressedthereon.

[0002] Carriers with a wick impressed thereon are known; the wick may bemade on a carbon base, with charcoal and wood pulp used as basicingredients, while the desired active substances have been added forspreading aromatic substances, insecticides and the like, as well asfurther substances for realizing, a desired rate of combustion. The wickmust be lighted by hand.

[0003] To facilitate the use of such a device and likewise increasesafety, the device is characterized in that a mechanism to be operatedby hand is provided for operating, an ignition element, which can beplaced in the holder and is replaceable to enable a wick to be ignitedwhen a carrier with this wick has been place in the holder.

[0004] An (embodiment advantageous in terms of price and easy to operateis obtained when the holder is suitable for placing a gas lightertherein, which gas lighter can be operated by means of the abovemechanism. The simplest and cheapest gas lighter may be chosen.

[0005] A practical embodiment of the above mechanism is obtained whenthis is formed by a control button, by means of which the housing of agas lighter placed in the holder can be moved relative to an ignitionpush button provided on this gas lighter. Normally, such a gas lightercan be operated by pressing the ignition push button relative to thehousing tightly held in the hand.

[0006] To prevent a carrier from being wrongly placed in the holder, thedevice is provided with fitting means to enable the carrier to be placedin the holder in a fixedly defined position. Besides, clamping means maybe provided to enable a carrier placed in the holder to be clamped inits fixedly defined position.

[0007] To efficiently deliver the active substances to the ambient air,the holder may be provided with openings arranged in the upper surfaceof the holder above the place intended for the carrier.

[0008] The invention not only relates to a device for introducing activesubstances into ambient air but also to a carrier suitable for beingplaced in the holder of such a device, which carrier is provided with animpressed wick in which active substances are included which, when thiswick is burning, are released and delivered to the ambient air.According to the invention, the shape of this carrier is adapted to thesupporting surface therefor on the inner side of the holder.

[0009] Around the right place where the ignition of the wick has tooccur, a recess is provided in the carrier near one end of the wickimpressed thereon, which recess is of such a size and in such a positionthat, when activating the ignition element, only this wick end isignited.

[0010] The carrier may further be provided with fitting means which,when placing the carrier in the holder, can cooperate with the fittingmeans of the holder.

[0011] Finally, the invention relates to a combination of a device and acarrier as described above and an ignition element, preferably a gaslighter, as mentioned above.

[0012] The invention will now be explained in more detail on the basisof the exemplary embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing. In thisdrawing:

[0013]FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention for introducingactive substances into ambient air;

[0014]FIG. 2 shows a carrier with an impressed wick to be arrangedtherein; and

[0015]FIG. 3 shows the device according to the invention from below.

[0016] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the deviceaccording to the invention is formed by a holder 1 with a bottom plate2, in which an upwardly directed, elongated hollow space 3 is provided.From below a gas lighter 4 can be placed in this hollow space 3. Housing5 of this gas lighter rests against a support 7, which can hinge aroundline 6, while the ignition push button 8 of lighter 4 rests against asupporting edge 9 of bottom plate 2. By tilting support 7 around line 6against spring force, housing 5 can be moved in the direction of arrow10. This means that ignition push button 8 is pressed relative to thishousing 5 and lighter 4 ignites. In space 11 in bottom plate 2 anupwardly deflected flame is thus obtained, which is extinguished whensupport 7, by spring action, returns to the position shown in FIG. 3 andthe housing 5, by the built-in spring action in the gas lighter, movesbackwards against the direction of arrow 10 relative to ignition pushbutton 8. Support 7 can be tilted against spring pressure by means of apush button 12. This push button 12 is fixed to a cover 13, which isarranged in holder 1 and can hinge around line 14. Push button 12 isprovided with two triangular lips 15, which, when cover 13 is moveddown, fit into two corresponding slits 16 in an operating member 17 ofholder 1. Push button 12 can be moved down relative to cover 13 againstspring action. When holder 1 is closed, push button 12 can therefore bepushed further down against spring action, with the edges of thetriangular lips 15 abutting against the edges of support 7 and causingthis support to tilt against spring action.

[0017] In the present exemplary embodiment, the holder is provided witharchshaped side edges 18, while cover 13 is curved accordingly and isprovided with a lattice structure.

[0018] A carrier 19 provided with an impressed wick 20 can be placed inholder 1. FIG. 2 shows such a carrier, in which the wick is spirallyarranged. Other forms for the wick are of course possible, for instancea meandering wick. The wick is made on a carbon base and provided withactive substances, as for instance aromatic substances or insecticides,which, when the wick is burning, are released and delivered to theambient air. It will be clear that the length of the wick determines thelife of the carrier. The lattice structure in cover 13 serves tofacilitate the delivery of the active substances from the top of holder1 to the ambient air. Around the end 21 of the carrier 19 a recess 22 isarranged in the carrier. The place of this end 21 is such that, whencarrier 19 is arranged in holder 1, this end comes to lie approximatelyabove the place where the flame of gas lighter 4 is obtained. Holder 1has flat edges 23, on which carrier 19 can be placed. As shown in FIGS.1 and 2, the shape of the circumference of carrier 19 is adapted tothese edges 23. Edges 23, together with corresponding lower edges incover 13, can form clamping means, between which the carrier can beclamped. Carrier 19 and holder 1 are further provided with respectivelyfitting means 24 in the form of holes and 25 in the form ofprotuberances, so that the carrier is always laid in the holder in afixedly defined position.

[0019] It is further noted that, although not shown in the figures, acover may be provided for closing the hollow space 3, into which the gaslighter fits, and the bottom side of the operating member 17.

[0020] Both carrier 19 and gas lighter 4 are replaceable constituentparts in the whole.

[0021] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodimentdescribed herein with reference to the drawings, but comprises all kindsof modifications thereof, of course as far as falling within the scopeof protection of the appended claims.

1. A device for introducing active substances, such as aromaticsubstances, insecticides and the like, into ambient air, comprising aholder for a carrier with a wick impressed thereon, characterized inthat a mechanism to be operated by hand is provided for operating anignition element, which can be placed in the holder and is replaceable,to enable a wick to be ignited when a carrier with this wick has beenplaced in the holder.
 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized inthat the holder is suitable for placing a gas lighter therein, which gaslighter can be operated by means of said mechanism.
 3. A deviceaccording to claim 2, characterized in that said mechanism is formed bya control button, by means of which the housing of a gas lighter placedin the holder can be moved relative to an ignition push button providedon said gas lighter.
 4. A device according to any one of the precedingclaims, characterized in that it is provided with fitting means toenable the carrier to be placed in the holder in a fixedly definedposition.
 5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims,characterized in that it is provided with clamping means to enable acarrier placed in the holder to be clamped in its fixedly definedposition.
 6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims,characterized in that the holder is provided with openings arranged inthe upper surface of the holder above the place intended for thecarrier.
 7. A carrier, suitable for being placed in the holder accordingto any one of the preceding claims, provided with an impressed wick inwhich active substances are included which, when said wick is burning,are released and delivered to the ambient air, characterized in that theshape of the carrier is adapted to the supporting surface therefor onthe inner side of the holder.
 8. A carrier according to claim 7,characterized in that in the carrier near one end of the wick impressedthereon a recess is provided, which is of such a size and in such aposition that, when activating the ignition element, only this wick endis ignited.
 9. A carrier according to claim 7 or 8, characterized inthat it is provided with fitting means, which, when placing the carrierin the holder, can cooperate with the fitting means of the holder.
 10. Acombination of a device according to any one of claims 1-6, a carrieraccording to any one of claims 7-9, and an ignition element as set forthin any one of claims 1-3.